Binder



June 15, 1943. c. D. TRUSSELL 2,322,177

' BINDER Filed Nov. 11, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 T INVENTOR CLARENCE D. TRUS S ELL June 15, 1,943. c. D. TRUSSELL 2,322,177

BINDER Filed Nov. 11, 1942 s Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR CLARENCE D.TRUSSELL June 15, 1943. c. D. TRUSSELL BINDER Filed Nov. 11, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .Iillillil INVENTOR CLARENCE D. TRUSSELL Patented June 15, 1943 BINDER Clarence D. Trussell, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., assignor to Trussell Manufacturing Company, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 11, 1942, Serial No. 465,288

14 Claims.

The invention herein disclosed relates to binders and is a continuation-in-part of copending patent application Ser. No. 452,111 filed July 23, 1942.

Objects of the present invention are to provide an inexpensive form of binder, particularly a ring binder, which can be constructed of readily available non-metallic materials and which will be particularly simple in construction, practical and generally desirable.

Further special objects of the invention are to enable the entire back structure of the binder to be made of sheet material and further to enable this back structure to be made up as an integral part and continuation of the cover of the binder.

Further objects and the novel features ofthe invention are hereinafter set forth or will appear in the course of the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate several difierent embodiments of the invention. Structure however, may be further modified and changed all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and broadly claimed.

Fig. l is a plan view of a book embodying features of the invention, parts indicated as broken away and appearing in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation, also with parts appearing in section.

Fig. 3 is a broken cross-sectional detail as on substantially the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a broken plan and part sectional detail as on substantially the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the split and sprung end of one of the ring elements.

Figs. 6, 7 and 7a are broken perspective views of other forms of the back construction.

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views illustrating formation of another embodiment and Fig. 10'is a plan view of the blank for such embodiment.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13, are similar views illustrating the make-up of another form of the invention and the corresponding blank.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to l, the back and the cover are made from a single piece of sheet material.

This is accomplished by doubling the material at the center at [0, to form a ridge or arch with oppositely inclined sides or faces ll, then folding the material sharply inward at the lower edges of such inclined faces as at I2, to form fiat base portions I3, and then doubling these base portions at l4, and extending them outwardly into cover forming panels I5.

Hinge creases It, may be pressed in the material at the junction of the cover panels with the base portions M.

The inturned and doubled base portions of the generally triangular back structure are shown as fixedly secured by an overlying binding [1, shown as extended outwardly over the covers and as having flaps I8, tucked in and secured over the upper end faces of the base portions [3.

The edges of the doubled base portions may substantially abut as indicated in Fig, 3, to constitute a firm solid back structure, the binding securing the same in this relation.

The unitary back and cover structure may be made of paper, cardboard, fiber board or other suitable sheet material.

The binder rings l9, may be made of vulcanized fiber, plastic, or other material and they are shown as of flattened oval shape and having angled ends 20, providing outwardly projecting stems readily engageable in locking openings provided in the inclined sides of the triangular backpiece.

These openings are shown in Fig. 4, as of the keyhole type having transversely extending narrow portions 2|, with enlargements 22, at the inner ends of the same adjacent the center ridge.

An additional feature of these so-called keyhole slots is the provision of smaller enlargements 23, at the outer ends of the slots, which while preventing release, will permit the rings a free hinging action such as indicated in Fig. 3.

The stem portions of the rings are shown in Fig. 5, as transversely grooved in opposite sides at 24, to provide reduced neck portions, which will enter the narrower parts of the slots, after the larger diameter ends have been passed through the enlargements at the inner ends of the slots.

To impart a spring gripping character to the rings, the stem portions of the rings are shown as split at 25, and small pieces 26, of rubber or other material wedged into position between the split portions, to spread them substantially as indicated in Fig. 5. This spring-like character may be imparted by slightly bending the split ends and giving them a desired set under heat, in which event, the wedge may not be necessary or desirable.

These splitspring ends cause the rings to take a yielding frictional grip in the slots, preferably to the extent of enabling the rings to hold themselves erect in the open tilted back relation indicated in Fig. 3, for easy removal or insertion of the sheets or leaves 21.

To facilitate this tilting back fully opening operation, the transverse slots 24, may be widened and have the inclined upper edges indicated at 28, Figs. 3 and 5, to rest on the inclined upper faces of the ridged back member.

The lesser enlargements 23, at the outer ends of the ring receiving slots permit and promote full opening tilting movement of the rings and they have the further advantage of relieving the closing tension on the split ends of the rings, so that when the rings are fully positioned in the slots, the split ends may spring open to a relaxed condition.

In this relation, the split ends may retain theirspringy character even though the rings be of plastic or other material not ordinarily considered as of an inherently springy nature.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the backpiece is made of triangularly folded sheet material separate from and attached to the cover structure.

In Fig. 6, the infolded base portions 29, of'the hollow triangular formation are shown as overlapped at 30, and secured in such relation by rivets or other suitable fastenings 3|, which can be headed through opening 32, provided in the central ridge or arch I0. These fastening may extend through the back 33, of the applied one piece cover, the latter having the hinged cover panels 34.

Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment in which the inturned base portions 35, are not lapped, but are simply abutted and secured to the back of the cover structure, as by means of adhesive 36.

Fig. 7a illustrates a form of the invention in which the triangular back piece is a completely closed tubular structure, that is, with the base a single integral continuation of the inclined sides or faces of the triangle. This construction may be made of plastic, extruded in the triangular tubular shape shown, cut off in the desired lengths and having the ring receiving slots punched or otherwise formed therein. This structure also may be produced from cylindrical or other shaped tubing, reformed as by rolling or passage through dies to the desired substantially triangular configuration.

The forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 13 resemble the first illustrated embodiment, in that the cover panels are in effect integral extensions of the backpiece but differ from that first form in being extended direct from the side edges of the arch, instead of from infolded doubled extensions of the arch.

In the Fig. 8 construction, the two cover panels 31,38, are connected respectively by full length back portions 39, 40, with the edges of the oppositely inclined sides I I, l I, of the arch.

This construction can be produced from a flat rectangular blank, such as shown in Fig. 10, with the fold lines indicated and slit inward part way from opposite edges as indicated at 4|, 42, between back section 39, and the edge of one inclined side H, and between the other cover panel 38, and the edge of the other back portion 40.

When folded and assembled as in Fig. 9, the overlying back portions 39, 40, may be adhesively secured and if desired, a binding 50, may be applied to cover the split portions at 4|, 42.

In the Fig. 11 form of construction, the crossing of the cover panels at the back is effected by passing one through an opening in the other. This can be accomplished by slitting a rectangular blank, such as illustrated in Fig. 13, inward from opposite edges between one cover panel such as 38, and the connected back portion 40, as represented at 43, 43, and slitting the mid-portion of the blank between the other back member 39, and connected edge of the inclined side II, as indicated at 44, the latter slit being long enough to pass the cover panel 38 when folded to a smaller area, and produce the setup structure shown in Fig. 12. Binding may be applied over the slit portions at 43, 44, as indicated at 45.

Other forms of cuts may be made to permit passing or crossing of one back portion and its cover panel over or beyond the other. Thus in the Fig. 9 form, instead of rolling and passing one cover panel through a closed slit or opening, the slit or opening may be extended out through the edge of the one cover panel, enabling that panel to be opened up to freely pass the other cover panel, after which the split or separated sections of that panel may be secured together by a binding or overlying layer. Also, to facilitate passage of one part beyond the other, the slits or openings may be rounded instead of straight, thus to more readily accommodate a portion which has been rolled or folded more or less to pass it through another portion.

While usually considered desirable to have the back portions overlap and thus one reinforce the other, if a single thickness is desired at the back, that may be accomplished by removing ections at the crossing points, so that only a single thickness extending from one side will stand in abutting relation with a single thickness coming from the other side of the folded or arched back member.

The shape of the undercut keyhole type slots in the sides of the hollow arch may be varied to suit particular forms and shapes of binder rings or to meet other special requirements.

What is claimed is:

l. A binder of the character disclosed, comprising a sheet of cardboard or like material folded to hollow triangular cross-section with relatively inclined sides connected and supported by inturned base portions, said nclined sides having keyhole slots therein and flexible rings having headed end portions releasably interlocked in said keyhole slots.

2. In a binder, integral covers and back member comprising a single piece of sheet material folded at the center into hollow arched formation and having cover pieces integrally attached to opposite edge portions of said folded intermediate back portion.

3. In a binder, a single piece of sheet material folded in hollow arched formation at the center and having cover forming panels hingedly connected with the base edge portions of said arched formation.

4. In a binder, a single piece of sheet material folded in hollow arched formation at the center and having cover forming panels hingedly connected with the base edge portions of said arched formation, said hollow arched structure having openings therein and binder ring elements entered in said openings.

5. A binder, comprising a piece of sheet material folded in hollow arch formation and having cover panels hingedly connected with the base edge portions of said hollow arch formation, one cover panel being connected by a back forming panel with the opposite far edge portion of the arched formation and the other cover panel being connected by a back forming panel with the other, opposite far edge of the arched formation and said sheet material being cut to pass said cover panels and back forming panels across to the opposite side edges of said arched formation.

6. In a binder, a piece of sheet material folded in the form of an arch with inclined sides, back panels connected with the base edges of said inclined sides and crossing at the base of said arch and cover panels hingedly connected with said back panels, one cover panel connected with the back panel extending from one far edge of the arch and the other cover panel connected with the back panel extending from the other far edge of the arch and said material being cut at the points of crossing of said panels to pass said cover panels to said opposite sides of the arch.

7. In a binder, a piece of sheet material folded in the form of an arch with inclined sides, back panels connected with the base edges of said inclined sides and crossing at the base of said arch and cover panels hingedly connected with said back panels, one cover panel connected with the back panel extending from one far edge of the arch and the other cover panel connected with the back panel extending from the other far edge of the arch, said material being cut at the points of crossing of said panels to pass said cover panels to said opposite sides of the arch, the inclined sides of said arch having transverse slots therein and binder ring elements releasably interlocked in said slots.

8. A binder having binder ring receiving slots and binder rings having stem portions releasably engaged in said slots, said stem portions being split and spread, said spread portions being transversely grooved at the outer sides and wedges of resilient material entered between said spaced portions and holding the split portions of said stems resiliently spread.

9. In a binder, a back member having transversely extending slots enlarged to different extents at opposite ends of the same and binder rings having head portions of a size to freely enter the larger enlargements and to be hingedly confined in the smaller enlargements at the opposite ends of said s ots.

10. A binder having a back portion with transversely extending keyhole slots and binder rings having stem portions to enter the larger ends of said keyhole slots transversely grooved to slide in said slots and said transverse grooves being widened at the outer ends to enable hinging movement of said binder rings while so slidingly engaged in said slots.

11. A binder having a back portion with transversely extending keyhole slots and binder rings,

having stem portions to enter the larger ends of said keyhole slots transversely grooved to slide in said slots and said transverse grooves being widened at the outer ends to enable hinging movement of said binder rings while so slidingly engaged in said slots and the portions of said binder rings engaged in said slots being resiliently spread to yieldingly retain said binder rings in a tilted open position.

12. A binder comprising sheet material folded transversely in substantially triangular relation with inturned bas portions in overlapping engagement, fastening means securing said base portions in said overlapped relation, the inclined sides of said substantially triangular formation having transverse slots therein and binder ring elements releasably engageable in said transverse slots.

13. A binder, comprising binder rings having resilient compressible stem portions and a back having slots to accommodate said stem portions, said slots each having an enlargement to freely receive said stems, a narrower portion to compressingly hold said stems and a slightly enlarged portion to relax said resilient stems without releasing the same.

14. A back for a binder, comprising sheet ma terial folded at a slight angle to form connected relatively inclined faces, said material being extended and folded beneath the arch of said relatively inclined faces to form the base of a triangular arch structure and then extended beyond the base edges of said structure in cover forming panels.

CLARENCE D. TRUSSELL. 

